Lombardy is a region located in northern Italy. It is known for some of its cities such as Milan, Mantua, Como and for its lakes (Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Lake Como) but also for its food and wine tradition.
Our Choices from Lombardy
Ca dei Frati I Frati Lugana
Cellar up to 4 years, serve chilled. A vibrant white from Lake Garda's finest producer, Ca dei Frati. Made from Turbiana grapes, it offers honeysuckle, pineapple, and citrus notes. Great with fish or salads.
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Castello Bonomi Franciacorta Extra Brut Cuvee Lucrezia Etichetta Nera
A luxurious sparkling wine with ripe berry and citrus notes. Aged 120 months, pairs well with lobster and mature cheese. Cellar for 20 years.
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Ca' del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvee Prestige Rose
Salmon-pink Franciacorta with floral and fruity depth. Perfect as an aperitif or with fish-based dishes.
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Castello Bonomi Cordelio Curtafranca
The palate unveils a silky texture, fine tannins, and a core of vibrant fruit, finished with hints of cinnamon and woodsmoke. Ideal for smoked meats and tomato-based pastas. No need to decant.
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Lugana
The aroma is an exotic blend of candied fruits and citrus notes. On the palate, experience its remarkable expressiveness, elegant weight, and a finish that lingers.
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Ancilla Luguna ' ', Lombardy, 2017
Hailing from Lombardy, this wine radiates with rich flavors of super-ripe pear and apricot. A wine that's both funky and elegant, perfect for those who enjoy nuanced whites.
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Lombardy's key Wine Areas
Valtellina Superiore DOCG
This denomination refers to still red produced in the province of the city of Sondrio, in Valtellina. At least 90% of the Nebbiolo grape is used, locally called Chiavennasca. Among the wines of this appellation we find Sassella, Sforzato, Inferno, Valgella. These wines are aged for at least 24 months, 12 of which in wooden barrels.
Lugana DOC
This area is located between Lombardy and Veneto, it includes the cities of Brescia and Verona and Lake Garda. There are five different types of Lugana: the “base” Lugana, Superiore, Riserva, Vendemmia Tardiva (Late Harvest) and Spumante. All the wines produced in this area have an intense aroma reminiscent of almonds and citrus fruits.
Oltrepo Pavese DOC
The production is in the Pavia area and includes wines such as Moscato, Riesling, Pinot Nero (vinified as white or rosé), Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The wines produced in this area are complex, often characterized by an intense floral aroma with hints of ripe fruit, spices, and herbaceous notes.
Franciacorta DOCG
This sparkling wine denomination was one of the first of the region, born in 1967. The grape varieties used are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco. Among the sparkling wines refermented in the bottle with the classic method we find Franciacorta DOCG, Franciacorta DOCG Satèn, Franciacorta DOCG Rosè, Franciacorta DOCG Millesimato, Franciacorta DOCG reserve.
Garda DOC
This area includes the southern shores of Lake Garda and there are wines such as Garda Classico Bianco, Garda Classico Chiaretto, Garda Classico Rosso or Garda Classico Groppello. This is the most typical wine of this area, a delicate but spicy red wine to accompany savory first courses, meat dishes or medium-aged cheeses.
Food Parings
Starter: Sciatt valtellinesi:
Round buckwheat pancakes stuffed with Casera cheese. Typical appetizer of the Lombardy mountains.
Main course: Risotto alla Milanese:
a great Lombard classic that has always been part of Italian cuisine. Prepared with rice, saffron and, according to the ancient recipe, beef marrow.
Second course: Ossobuco alla Milanese:
sliced veal shanks with marrow, cooked with finely chopped garlic, parsley, lemon and typically accompanied with a spoonful of saffron risotto.
Second course: Cotoletta alla Milanese:
this is the dish most loved by Italian children. Veal ribs breaded and fried in butter.
Dessert: Panettone:
the sweet bread now eaten throughout the world during Christmas holidays. Prepared with butter, eggs, sugar, raisins and candied fruit.
Lombardy cuisine has a very wide variety of dishes which includes risottos, soups, meat, and fish dishes thanks to the presence of the many Lombard rivers and lakes. The starters are usually based on cheeses and cured meats while the first courses are based on rice or stuffed pasta.
Soups and broths are a cornerstone of traditional Lombardy cuisine as well as boiled meat and baked fish, often accompanied by a tasty polenta.
FAQS
What wine is Lombardy known for?
One of the main grape varieties of Lombardy is Nebbiolo, known here as Chiavennasca, together with Barbera, characteristic of the Oltrepò Pavese area and Pinot Nero. Finally, the region is important for the production of the Franciacorta DOCG traditional method sparkling wine.
What grapes are grown in Lombardy?
The main grape is Nebbiolo, here called Chiavennasca, and which gives rise to Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG.
The other black grape varieties are Croatina, Pinot Nero, Barbera. Between the white wines, on the other hand, we find white Chardonnay, Riesling and Moscato.
What is distinctive about Lombardy’s wines?
Lombard wines have different characteristics depending on the production area. This is in fact a very varied region from the point of view of the territory because it includes mountain areas, plains, hills, and the lakes area with a milder climate. Depending on the production area there are more intense and dry wines, or fresher, lighter, and more fragrant wines.
Which is the best time to visit Lombardy?
The climate of Lombardy is continental with harsh winters and extremely hot summers. For this reason, the months of spring, between March and June, and those of autumn between September and October, are the best to visit the region. Summer in low-lying areas can sometimes bring oppressive heat.
What is unique about Lombardy compared to other parts of Italy?
This region is particular from a territorial point of view because it includes the Alps, the Pre-Alps, large cities, plains, rivers and three large lakes (Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda).
Furthermore, the same territorial variety can be found both in the food and in the Lombard cuisine, all different, and in the many different types of wines produced in this beautiful and particular region of Northern Italy.
Want to know it all?
Lombardy: region in a nutshell
Total vineyard area:
29.000 hectaresNumber of producers:
6,000Total wine production per year:
1.3 million hectolitersNumber of DOCGs:
5Number of DOCs:
23
Lombardy’s Wine History
As some prehistoric findings show, the cultivation of wine in Lombardy was already present in the Bronze Age. With the Roman domination the cultivation of vineyards and their techniques became more solid. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the barbarian peoples arrived, including the Lombards from whom the region takes its name.
In this period, despite the production of wines that are quite popular in the invaders' tables, the vineyard undergoes substantial abandonment until in the early Middle Ages it resumes giving attention to the remaining vineyards.
The end of the 1500s, the techniques learned by the French mark a turning point because from this point on, Lombard production begins to grow and produce high quality wines, with the constant improvement of its techniques.
Lombardy Viticulture
Lombardy is a large region with many different areas: it ranges from mountain areas such as Valtellina to hilly areas of Oltrepò Pavese or areas with a particular climate such as those of Lake Garda. Only 10% of the region is hilly, an area that is used for quality viticulture.
The diversity of the Lombard territory therefore allows the production of wines that are vastly different from each other depending on the area.
Lombardy’s Top Wineries To Visit
Tenuta Travaglino
An ancient estate that dates back to 1111, as evidenced by documents found. The Travaglino Agricultural Company was born in 1868 and at the beginning of 2000 the cellar was renovated with the purchase of cutting-edge technologies, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
Cantina Urbana
A real winery in the city, in Milan. Here you can follow the wine production processes, step by step, from when the grapes arrive in the cellar to when the bottle is labeled. A special place in which to learn and taste.
Società Agricola Fay
Founded in 1973 by the will of Sandro Fay who starts from a small family wine production and then creates and develops a real business today directed by him and his two children. Almost all production is concentrated in the Valgella sub-area, with 15 hectares of vineyards.
Best white wines from Lombardy
Lugana DOC:
has a straw color with green reflections. Delicate scents of flowers and almonds.
Oltrepò Pavese Chardonnay DOC:
The color is yellow with a characteristic tropical fruit scent and a harmonious flavor.
Oltrepò Pavese Moscato DOC:
A light, delicate and highly aromatic white wine.
Franciacorta DOCG:
A traditional-method sparkling wine with citrus and croissant aromas.
Garda DOC Pinot Bianco:
Recognised for its light color and fruity scent reminiscent of plum, pineapple, jasmine.
Best red wines from Lombardy
Lambrusco Mantovano Oltrepò Rosso DOC: 100% Lambrusco grape varieties producing a ruby red colour, dry on the palate and savoury.
100% Lambrusco grape varieties producing a ruby red colour, dry on the palate and savoury.
Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG:
A Nebbiolo based wine with intense ruby red colour, full body and powerful aroma.
Garda DOC Merlot:
An attractive ruby colour leads to ripe plum and cherry fruit flavours and vanilla notes.
Valtellina Superiore DOCG:
A garnet-tinged wine with persistent perfume and velvety tannins on the palate.
Botticino DOC:
obtained from Barbera, Sangiovese, Marzemino and Schiava Gentile varieties. Characteristic vanilla and pepper aromas.